All Blacks sweat on McAlister injury

All Black second-five Luke McAlister has until Thursday to prove his fitness. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry will give Luke McAlister until Thursday to prove his fitness to face the Wallabies as a back injury threatens to derail his test reunion with Daniel Carter.

McAlister was one of three changes to the All Blacks' starting lineup for Saturday's Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test here, replacing benched second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu, who paid the price for some indifferent recent form.

But soon after he strode onto North Sydney Oval for yesterday's two-hour session, McAlister suffered a recurrence of the back spasms which troubled him after the Italy test in June.

He was unable to train, with Nonu slotting in outside Carter for the rest of the session and eyeing a possible reprieve for his 22nd consecutive test.

"There is a concern. He seemed pretty good after training so we'll just have to wait and see how he scrubs up tomorrow," Henry said.

The coach said he could leave a decision as late as Thursday as McAlister eyes his 28th test, and first alongside Carter since the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France in Cardiff.

Carter replaced Stephen Donald for his first test of 2009 after four matches back from an Achilles tendon injury layoff, while Kieran Read's lineout prowess won him the No 8 spot ahead of 58-test veteran Rodney So'oialo who will provide some bench impact.

In a contentious selection, winger Joe Rokocoko retained his spot ahead of Cory Jane after a poor South African tour, thanks to an impressive two-try haul for Auckland against Northland on Saturday.

Henry said Nonu's benching was "a wakeup call" after an impressive northern hemisphere tour.

"He's played some high-quality rugby for a long time for the All Blacks and just over the last couple of tests he's dropped that standard... there's competition and it got through."

He said Carter and McAlister were a good fit in the five-eighths roles, opposing the Wallabies' two playmakers Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes.

"(Carter) has played some outstanding rugby considering what he's come back from. He's been pretty special for Canterbury, and played at a higher level than we all thought he would.

"Luke gives us an extra kicking game, a right and left footer, so that increases our kicking ability."

So'oialo's demotion was a rare one, having been a first-choice All Blacks loose forward since the start of 2005. He played 14 tests last year and captained the All Blacks in four of them, including the 19-34 loss to Australia here in McCaw's absence.

"He (Read) is going to be a long term All Black, he's good at the lineout good at the back of the scrum, he's got a good skill level. We thought he was due," Henry said.

The tight-five remained intact, with prop Owen Franks earning a second test start, while Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche is set for his second test off the bench in the injured Keven Mealamu's absence.

The All Blacks weren't surprised by the Wallabies' selections, with Adam Ashley-Cooper replacing injured skipper Stirling Mortlock at centre, James O'Connor to fullback and the abrasive Rocky Elsom returning to the blindside flank.

Henry said the two sessions to date in Sydney had given the All Blacks a chance to address the many things that went wrong in the dual losses in South Africa.

"We didn't really compete, our skill level was too low and we had a lot of turnovers, dropped a lot of ball and didn't take opportunities. I could speak for a couple of hours about it.

"We didn't play well enough and everybody understands that in the team, and hopefully we can turn that around."

All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Ma'a Nonu.


Australia
James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith (capt), Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes.

- NZPA